Multiple element fuse



Feb. 14, 1950 U JR 2,497,470

MULTIPLE ELEMENT FUSE Filed June '7, 1946 l Ill IN V EN TOR.

FRED J ROUKOS,JR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1950 EEUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLEELEMENT FUSE Fred J. Roukos, Jr., Columbia, S. 0.

Application June 7, 1946, Serial No. 674,960

' 2 Claims. (01. 200-125) My invention relates to improvementsinmultiple element fuses, especially although not necessarily forautomobile lighting systems, and the primary object of my invention isto provide a practical, eificient, and low-cost device of this naturewhich can be installed in place of the usual single fuses in the usualcontact brackets provided therefor, and includes means to readilyconnect in circuit a new fuse element whenever the element in use blowsout.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a multipleelement fuse of the character indicated above which comprises asubstantially dust proof protective casing in which a revoluble core isenclosed, on which a plurality of fuse elements in the form of stripsare removably mounted in conductive spring metal clips, so that blownout strips can be readily replaced.

Other important objects and advantageous features of my invention willbe apparent from the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings, wherein a presently preferred embodiment of my invention isset forth merely for illustrative purposes.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the multiple elementfuse.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through the casing and showingthe rotatable core in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on an intermediate plane throughFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale, showingthe side of the lower part of the rotatable core and the manner ofassociation of the lower end of one of the replaceable fuse elementswith a clip.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away, of one ofthe combined connector lugs and contactors, and,

Figure 6 is a top plan view on a similarly enlarged scale of one of theclips.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improvement in multiple elementfuses comprises the generally cylindrical casing 1 of appropriateinsulating material having the fixed end 8, and the threadably removableend 9, these ends being formed with relatively large axially alignedcircular openings 10 and II, respectively.

A cylindrical insulating material core l2, slightly smaller in diameterthan the inside of the casing I, has at one end the axial cylindricalextension l3 turning in the opening ill of the casing end 8, and theelongated axial cylindrical extension l4 having an inner portion turningin the opening I l of the removable casing end 9, and an exposed outerportion l5 formed as a finger grip enabling manual rotation of the corel2 in the casing.

The outer ends of the core l2 work close to the inner sides of thecasing ends 8 and 9, and the sides of the core are formed with aplurality, in the herein illustrated case of five longitudinalsubstantially parallel relatively wide grooves l6 which extend betweenpoints adjacent to the outer ends of the core. The troughs of thegrooves I6 are preferably rounded, as indicated in Figure 3, with theirends I! plane and right. angular and slotted at 18 to accommodate fuse:element clips IS.

The fuse element clips !9, as shown in Figure: 6, comprise flat metalstrips bent U-shaped to provide the curved bight portion 20 having thesubstantially parallel legs 2| on the outer ends: of which are outwardlyand rearwardly curved flanges 22. The clips [9 are mounted in the slots;I 8 in each end 11 of each groove It by forcing; the U-shaped part intothe slots 18 so that the flanges 22 lie conformably along the curvedouter surface of the core 12 at the sides of the slots l8 and at theouter ends of the grooves [6, as shown in Figure 4.

The aperture between the clip legs 2| at their outer ends serves thedouble purpose of providing entrance for the replaceable fuse elementstrips 23 and providing a stop recess for the ball contact of thecombined connector lugs and contactors hereinafter described.

The fuse element strips 23 are flat parallel sided lengths ofappropriate fuse material capable of withstanding sufiicient pressurefor their insertion into and removal from frictional engagement betweenthe legs 2! of the clips [9 at their opposite ends.

The combined connector lugs and contactors 24 are of suitable conductivemetal and comprise the cylindrical heads 25 to snap into the usual fuseclips provided in automobile lighting systems and elsewhere, inreplacing therein the conventional cylindrical single element fuses.Flanges 26 are provided inwardly of the heads 25 to engage the outsideof the casing 1, while squared hollow shanks 2! fitting in accommodatingopenings 28 formed in the side of the casing opposite the circles ofclips IS on the cylinder l2 contain springs 29 exerting constant outwardpressure upon contactor balls 30 which roll on the exterior of thecylinder [2. The casing I2 is provided with a longitudinal inspectionopening 3| on the side opposite the connector lugs 24,

the holding depressions defined by-the' openings,

between the outer ends of the legs 2| of theclips l9, so that reliableelectrical contact is made with the clips related to the fuse elements23, and idle rotation of the cylinder I2 is precluded When-v-= ever afuse element 23 in use blows out, restoration of the electrical circuitconcerned is made simply by turning the handle L5; until the, two:

ball contactors 3i: engage as described'with an other pair of clips ISwith which an unblown fuse strip 23 is associated; Whenever desired thecore l2;may be-removed by removing the casing endfi and the blown outfuse strips replaced with fresh ones. v

What is claimed is:

1- A multiple fuse assembly adapted to be substituted for the singlefuse in the terminal clips of a fuse, block, said multiple fuse; assemblcomprising an: insulated tubular cylindrical casing having a, pairoflongitudinally spaced conductive contactors mounted having headsprojecting radially from the. exterior of said. casing and: formed: forengagement with thefuse block clips whereby the assembly is supported onthe fuse block with said contactorselectrically connected to the fuseblock clips, said cylindrical casing comprising ends formed with axiallyaligned cylindrical openings, a cylindrical insulated core havingreduced cylindrical, end portions jour nalledin said cylindricalopenings, one of said end portions being extended and formed to providea, handle for manually rotating said core within said casing, said corebeing formed at equal circumferential intervals, with longitudinalrecesses ofsubstantialj width terminating at. their opposite ends inrelatively narrow longitudinal slots, conductive clips removablyinsertedlinsaid slots, said clips; comprising, opposed elementsarranged. to be compressed toward each. other upon insertion inv theslots vlongitudinally. elongated fusiblestrips positioned, in saidrecesses with their opposite ends removablyclampedbetween the opposedelements of therelated clipsinserted inx slots, and contacts on said,contactors within said cylindrical, casing, each, contact embodying a.ball, and aspring operativel connected to. said ball for urging thelatter into engagement; with the. clip alignedtherewith. and seat;between the opposed elements of said aligned clip; to thereby 4establish positive electrical engagement of the ball contacts with theclips aligned therewith and resist vagrant rotation of said core whilesaid contacts are engaged with the clips of a fusible strip.

2. In a changeable fuse assembly involving a plurality of selectivelyusable fuses, a tubular cylindrical casing, a cylindrical corejournalled in said casing and having a handle at one end for rotatingthe. core, relativento thev casing, said core being formed in itssurface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinallyextending recesses, said recesses terminating at their opposite ends inrelatively narrow slots, V-shaped spring clips having legs normallytensioned away from'each'other and removably inserted in said slots, soas to. be. compressed toward each other, fusible strips positioned alongand within said 7 recesses with their opposite ends extending into theslots at the opposite ends of the recesses and removably insertedbetween and clampedyin place by/ the legslof the. related spring clipsinserted; whereby said fusible strips can. beremoved for replacement by.removing the related spring clips from their slots, and longitudinallyspaced contactors mounted on said tubular cylindrical casing, each ofsaid contactors having a ball con.- tact, and a spring operativelconnected to. said ball contact for urging the latter into: engagementwith the spring clip aligned therewith; said core being rotatablerelative to said casing" to align the spring clips of different fusiblestrips with said contacts, the outer ends of the legs of said clipswhen-in place in their slots being suffl'ciently spaced from eachotherto provide notches in which said contactor contacts seat to providepositive electrical engagement with the clips and resistvagrant'rotation of said core relative'to' said casing.

FRED J. ROUKOS; JR!

REFERENCES CITED The following references. are of recordin; the file ofthis patent:

UNI-'IEDi STATES Number Name Date 5915,2451; Ehrhardti r l Decl 7,,1.89:7 951,305 Dunfee Man. 8,191!) 1,774,801 Macke. et. al., Sept. 2,1930 119511271 Burtn vMar. 13,,1934 2,206,794, Vatava v r.. l July),1-940 2,303,592 Weaver Dec. 1-, 1942 g FOREIGN PATENTS;

Number Country Date 13,9852; GreatBritain Sent 1930

